On the backside of our apartment in DINO runs the Fossil Discovery Trail. Since Melanie had not hiked the trail, we did so on a nice Sunday afternoon. The trail starts at the Quarry Visitor Center  and goes to the Quarry Exhibit Hall, a distance of 1.2 miles.

It's a lovely Friday afternoon here in Dinosaur National Monument (DINO), dinner prep is done and I await my favorite Ranger's return home. Cocktails in the backyard watching the Prairie Dogs forage can't be too far away.

Not too much new here. We continue to acclimate, Melanie continues to train at her new position here at DINO. She worn her uniform today, but didn't want me to make a portrait because she'd left her Flat Hat at the Visitors' Center.  

I've continued to cycle Cub Creek Road most days. Today I took my time, stopping as I spotted trash along the road.  I filled one pannier. Seemed like the thing to do.

Have a great weekend. 

While Melanie was working on Friday, I once again cycled a portion of Cub Creek Road. She was on a Field Trip with other Rangers nearby and encountered Big Horn Sheep on a hike making me wish I'd gone the extra miles and maybe gotten a chance to see them too.

She was off work yesterday and after making our way into Vernal for errands and lunch, we hiked a portion of the River Trail that connects Split Mountain Camp and Green River Camp. Another splendid day in the neighborhood.

A new month and with it a spectacular Spring day.  The clouds were again part of the show on my bike ride. 

And I made it to the restored Josie Bassett Morris cabin. Here's more about her. 

I'll be out again today, fewer clouds and only slightly warmer to start off.

The meatloaf made it to the table last evening and was delicious (if I say so...). Melanie and I enjoyed a nice loop walk after dinner and saw Ranger Nick ouf for a walk. I met Ranger Emily yesterday too.

Yesterday I traveled into Vernal for miscellaneous errands and a few groceries. No cycling as it rained in the afternoon here in the Monument, something a bit unusual when it happens, high desert and all, but nice when it does. 

We're surrounding here in our block of apartments by White Tailed Prairie Dogs. They are cool neighbors and we've enjoyed sitting out back of our apartments watching them feed and the pups play.

The white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) is a burrowing rodent native to the western United States, primarily found in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Montana. They live in colonies called "towns" and prefer sagebrush-grassland habitats. These prairie dogs are herbivores, feeding on grasses, forbs, and shrubs. They hibernate in winter and are active above ground during warmer months. Unlike other prairie dog species, white-tailed prairie dogs are less social and more solitary. They play a key ecological role by aerating soil and serving as prey for various predators, including hawks, badgers, and coyotes.
After a gestation period of about 30 days, females give birth to a litter of typically 3 to 8 pups in an underground burrow. The pups are born blind, hairless, and completely dependent on their mother. They remain underground for several weeks before emerging. ChatGPT

I finished preparing our dinner for this evening earlier, a dinner I made on Tuesday a few days ago, but promptly dropped on the floor of the apartment as I was preparing to serve it. It was a real mess. We enjoyed the potatoes and salad that were to accompany the meatloaf. 

​Not sure I've ruined a dinner in that fashion before, but it took a few minutes for that one to get off me. Anyway, tonight we try again.

It's another beautiful Spring day here and I'm about to get out and cycle a bit.